Caron had been dancing with the Ballet des Champs-Elysees since she was sixteen when she was cast opposite Gene Kelly in An American in Paris (1951). Her other early movie roles such as those in Lili (1953) and Gigi (1958) also included much dancing. As she matured from gamine to sophisticate, her dramatic opportunities increased, although she is still considered primarily a dancer. Among her recent credits are roles in Damage (1992), Jean Renoir (1993), The Reef (1997), Chocolat (2000), and Le Divorce (2003).